Republican Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries have agreed to a joint debate, following Jeffries’ proposal nearly two weeks ago to address the federal government shutdown.

“I write to challenge you to a debate on the Floor of the House of Representatives any day this week in primetime, broadcast live to the American people,” Leader Jeffries wrote in a letter on October 6. “Democrats have been clear and consistent in our position. The country needs immediate, bipartisan negotiations between the White House and congressional leadership in order to reach an enlightened spending agreement that reopens the government, improves the lives of hardworking American taxpayers and addresses the Republican healthcare crisis.”

Johnson subsequently declined to debate, according to The Hill.

But asked last week about debating Jeffries, Johnson said: “Hakeem, let’s sit down together, OK?”

READ MORE: ‘Republicans Are Doing Nothing’: Greene Turns Fire on Her Own Party

Jeffries on Tuesday agreed, telling reporters, “I look forward to that,” according to The Hill.

C-SPAN made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that both Johnson and Jeffries “have publicly agreed to appear jointly on C-SPAN’s Ceasefire program, hosted by POLITICO’s Dasha Burns.”

“We look forward to providing a forum for a smart, civil, respectful exchange of ideas between both leaders,” C-SPAN noted, saying it is “currently working with both offices on scheduling.”

On Wednesday, Johnson said he would debate Leader Jeffries, “anywhere, anytime,” before quickly pulling back.

“I’ll debate Hakeem Jeffries anywhere, anytime—as soon as we get the government open,” Johnson told Fox News, before attacking the Democrat for “engaging in political theater, and stating absurd things.”

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Johnson then went on to blast the Democrats for, he claimed, voting to “shut the government down.”

“The Republicans in Congress, House and Senate, have voted to open the government, and nine times, Democrats in Congress have voted to close it, all but one,” he said before targeting the Democratic Leader.

“Hakeem Jeffries led the effort in the House.”

“I am so frustrated by this. We all are.”

Smith: You have agreed to a debate with Jeffries on CSPAN?

Speaker Johnson: I will debate Hakeem Jeffries anytime as soon as we get the government open. pic.twitter.com/XFDrryZk4S

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 15, 2025

READ MORE: ‘Political Propaganda’: Kristi Noem Stars in $51 Million DHS Ad Blitz Thanking Trump

Image via Reuters

Once a die-hard MAGA foot soldier, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is continuing to break with her party, now attacking Republicans and specifically Speaker Mike Johnson over the high cost of living and keeping the House in recess during the federal government shutdown.

“My big warning is, we have to take this very seriously, because if Republicans are responsible for doing nothing about this and regular, innocent Americans’ health insurance premiums double, they’re not gonna be able to pay their rent,” the Georgia Republican lawmaker said.

Americans, Greene noted, are “already getting crushed with the cost of living expenses that the Biden administration created, but have not come back down.”

READ MORE: ‘Pure Fascist’: Governor Blasted for Backing ‘Forever’ Federal Joint Policing Operation

“Food prices have gone up this year,” she said, in direct contradiction to President Donald Trump’s repeated statements to the contrary. As recently as Tuesday the president claimed, “groceries are down, it’s all down.”

“Even the Department of Agriculture,” Greene continued, “put out a report on that in August, and there’s many other problems — even potentially that we could see a slowdown in the economy next year, and I pray to God, not a recession.”

“So this is extremely serious,” she stressed. “Everyone should be talking about it, and here’s where I’m upset: Republicans are doing nothing.”

“The House is not in session, which I think is inexcusable. Mike Johnson should be calling us back because we should be working.”

Last week, Greene also criticized the Speaker over his refusal to bring the House back into session.

READ MORE: ‘Political Propaganda’: Kristi Noem Stars in $51 Million DHS Ad Blitz Thanking Trump

“I don’t think that it’s believable to tell the American people that while we control the White House, the House, and the Senate, that we can’t return to work in Washington, D.C., because Chuck Schumer and six other Democrats won’t vote to open the government,” Greene said.

“I just, I know people,” she continued. “They don’t believe that.”

House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Wednesday echoed Greene’s lament: “House Republicans need to get back to work,” he said in a press conference.

The Bulwark on Tuesday had asked, “When even Marjorie Taylor Greene is talking about living in reality, maybe the ground is finally shifting?”

MTG: “Food prices have gone up this year and there’s many other problems even potentially we could see a slow down in the economy next year. This is extremely serious. Everyone should be talking about it. Here’s what I’m upset— Republicans are doing nothing.” pic.twitter.com/dDtLfJNH8x

— Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) October 15, 2025

READ MORE: ‘Buzz Saw of Trouble’: Pentagon Chief’s Move May Backfire Warn Experts

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reportedly this year’s biggest political ad spender, pouring tens of millions into spots that praise President Donald Trump and tell undocumented immigrants to leave the country.

Axios reported that while Homeland Security “disputes that its ads are political,” it has “spent at least $51 million this year on ads thanking President Trump for securing the border, according to AdImpact.”

Fox News Channel is the largest host of the ads, airing about $9 million worth of them so far.

The DHS ads are part of a larger $200 million contract pushing “self-deportation,” and promoting “Trump’s mass deportation agenda in a series of direct-to-camera videos starring the face of the policy, Secretary Kristi Noem.”

READ MORE: ‘Buzz Saw of Trouble’: Pentagon Chief’s Move May Backfire Warn Experts

Three of the ads say, “Thank you, President Donald J. Trump for securing our border and putting America first.”

In one, titled, “WARNING,” Secretary Noem says, “President Trump has a clear message for those that are in our country illegally. Leave now. If you don’t, we will find you and we will deport you. You will never return.”

“For too long, weak politicians left our borders wide open,” Noem continued, appearing to blame Democrats without mentioning any party. “They flooded our communities with drugs. Human trafficking and violent criminals. They put American lives at risk.”

“If you leave now, you may have an opportunity to return, and enjoy our freedom, and live the American dream,” Noem said. “But understand this. Under President Trump, America’s borders are closed to law breakers. Follow the law, and you’ll find opportunity. Break it, and you’ll find consequences.”

Axios noted that “‘President Trump’ is the most mentioned phrase across all the ads.”

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The two companies that created the ads did so by “bypassing the usual bidding process. DHS cited a[n] ‘unusual and compelling urgency’ to quickly award the contract.”

Separately, Secretary Noem is under fire for a DHS video in which she specifically blames Democrats for the federal government shutdown and its impacts on the TSA. Some airports across the country have refused to play the video, the Associated Press reported.

Critics blasted the spending.

“Using your tax dollars for political propaganda” wrote U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE).

“Your tax dollars and mine are being used to thank President Trump. That’s right, the biggest political ad spender of 2025 is DHS using your money,” noted The Bulwark’s Sarah Longwell.

READ MORE: ‘Seem Very Nervous’: Top Trump Officials Blasted After Lashing Out at ‘No Kings’ Protests